CNMI gets 500 ultra-durable soccer balls

Dr. Annathurai Ranganathan, AFC’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility Unit, sixth from back row, joins CNMI players, teachers, school officials, and NMIFA officers for a group photo after turning over the ultra-durable soccer balls, donated through One World Play Project, last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Asian Football Confederation through its One World Play Project turned over 500 ultra-durable soccer balls to Northern Mariana Islands Football Association in an elaborated ceremony last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Dr. Annathurai Ranganathan, AFC’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility Unit, led the donation turnover ceremony to NMIFA, which in return handed the balls to the various schools in the CNMI. Education Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan and the representatives of both the public and private schools in the Commonwealth were present at the ceremony to receive the donation.

The ball, which comes in different colors (the CNMI received the orange ones) is also called the One World Futbol, and according to its website, it never needs a pump and never goes flat. It has a maximum lifespan of eight years and can be used in any surface, even rocky ones. A Polaris UTV was even used to run into the ball and proved its durability during the turnover ceremony. The ball was flatted by the over 1,000lb vehicle for a few seconds before going back to its original form.

Incidentally, the OWPP was originally known as One World Futbol before the program adapted a new name late last year with Chevrolet as its main founding sponsor. The project started in 2010 and aimed at distributing 1.5 million balls to developing countries.

“With this donation, AFC is hoping to see more and more players get involved in the sport. AFC recognizes that there are children out there who would love to try the sport, but does not have the equipment to get started. AFC also recognizes that some parts of the world have no decent pitches. This ultra-durable balls will allow players, especially the young ones, to play anywhere at any time,” said Ranganathan in an interview with Saipan Tribune last weekend.

Meanwhile, Tan said the donation is a big boost to the CNMI’s football program, especially at the grassroots level.

“We are very thankful to AFC for their generosity. We are only an associate member of AFC, but they are very considerate in extending assistance to us. These balls are the best gifts to our kids,” Tan said.

The NMIFA head also explained why they decided to turn over the donated balls to CNMI schools.

“A big majority of our players are students so this is the best way to maximize the donation and help grow the sport more in the CNMI,” he added.

Sablan thanked NMIFA and AFC for donating the balls to the schools and said that PSS will continue to open its doors to football games and other NMIFA related activities. Youth league games are played in the various school pitches in the CNMI as the Oleai field is mostly for adult matches.

“We would like to express our gratitude to NMIFA and AFC for making it possible for our students/children to enjoy playing football. My two grandkids played football for the first time last year and I saw happiness and excitement on their faces when they were telling me what happened to their games,” Sablan.

The number of balls donated was based on each school’s population. Marianas High School and Hopwood Junior High School received the most with 40 each. Other recipients of the size 4 and 5 balls were Garapan Elementary School (30), Gregorio T. Camacho (20), Kagman (20), Koblerville (20), Oleai (25), San Vicente (30), William S. Reyes (30), Chacha Middle School (15), Dandan (20), Tanapag (20), Kagman High School (30), Saipan Southern (30), Sinapalo Elementary (10), Tinian Junior and Senior High (15), Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior and Senior High (10), Eucon International School (10), Grace Christian Academy (10), Mt. Carmel School (15), Saipan Community School (10), Saipan International School (10) and Whispering Palms (5).